Kindergarten teacher pleads guilty to child pornography

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A former kindergarten teacher in western New York has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Buffalo says 31-year-old Roland Yockel II of Hilton pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography. The charge carries a sentence of five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for June 14.

Yockel’s online activities were traced by U.S. Homeland Security agents working with New Zealand investigators on a case related to the internet application Chatstep.com.

Yockel was a kindergarten teacher at Ginther Elementary School in Brockport and was placed on administrative leave after his arrest.